Method of installing unbreakable watch crystals



F. E. DUTCHER Jan. 9, 1940.V

METHOD OF INSTALLING UNBREAKABLE WATCH CRYSTALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20?, 1957 /7 if ATTORNEY.

Jan. 9, 1940. E DUTCHR 2,186,451A

METHOD ,OF INSTALLING UNBREAKABLE WATCH CRYSTALS Filed Nov.` 2o, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El Ffa/721 0% /V ,r mk W. Cs m VD W m, A f 45 .Z h.

Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD 0F INSTALLING .UNBREAKABLE WATCH CRYSTALS f t l 1' Frank E. Butcher, New York, N. Y.

Application November 2o, 1937, seal No. 175,561

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved methodv elastic qualityl of the pliable material forming the v unbreakable crystal to insure permanency of the t ofthe set crystal. v

A major. object of the invention 'is in the provision of a vdevice adapted to melt the 'pliable crystal forming material to obtain a perfect bond of the same in the bezel without destroying the resiliency of the main body portion of the crystal.

A further important object of the invention is to construct a device of this character which is adapted to shape or cut the crystall material and also set the same in position in a single operation thereby very considerably hasternng the time required for accomplishing the mounting of the crystal.

Still another object is to insure a perfect bond of crystal and bezel by releasing in a small de'- gree the pressure under which the bowed material has been placed while the melting operation lis being -Iperformed with relation to the limited circumferentially exposed area of the material.l By thls slight release in pressure the molten rim of the crystal material is electively forced into all parts of the bezel due to the vtendencyon the part of the material to return to its original unbowed condition. f

Another object is vto employ the watch bezel case in which the crystal material is to be installed as the cutting or piercing agent for shap ing the material peripherally and directlyfusing the same in the bezel thereon.

My invention includes other objectsand advantages hereinafter more particularly set forth in connection with the detailed descriptionof the same with relation to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the drawingsf'are merely illustrative of a single mechanical embodiment of an apparatus capable of carrying out the provisions of the invention.

Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a front. elevation of the device constructed to carry out the teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a' side elevation of4 the'` apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the position ofthe crystal forming material being clearly indicated therein,

Fig. `3 is an enlarged detaily vertical cross section showing 'the relative positions of the mold, bezel case and crystal forming` material during the cutting step of the operation of the apparatus, and t f Fig. 4 is a further enlarged vertical cross section showing the manner in which the fused crystal material isgripped in thebezel of the bezel case. I p

In carrying out the inventive conceptsof the herein disclosed subject matter, Vthe illustrative embodiment of the same indicated inthe drawings shows an apparatus which includes a base member designated at I0, an yextending arm` II and a vertically spaced supporting structure vI2 adaptedk to retain the working parts of the device in adjustable relationship to the base. Sultably connected to the base IIJ is a further adjustable supporting structure I3 upon which a mold here'- inafter more particularly described isadapted to be removably secured in a fixed position bythe operator of the apparatus. It will be understood that any; desirable construction for accomplishing the proper vertical alignment of the mold and the other workingk parts of the device may be utilized Without departing Afrom thedsclosed inventive concepts. .-The' correct position of the mold on thesupporting member I 3 for the particular bezel case employed yi clearly shownv in Fig. v2 of the drawings.

The apparatus illustrated for carrying out the described method ofV installing watch crystals further. discloses suitable bowingA mechanism for doming the material forming the crystal when necessary in thewatch structure. This means is provided forlby the screw threaded vertically extending rod Ill, one end of which has a resilient round abutting piece I5 which is adapted to contact the material forming the unbreakable crystal. The opposite end of the rod I4 includes a thumb screw I6 through which` the operator of the device may set the abutting piece to yobtain the necessaryor required dome in the crystal yforming material by .direct application or"y pressure.

The apparatus also includes a means in its structural formation for gripping the bezel cases ofthe watches into which the crystal is to be directly inserted. `This construction providesv adn justable gripping fingers I'I and I8, Fig. 1l, controlled by the operator through thumb screw I9. By varying the width of the gripping element or lingers I'l and I8 the same may be brought into contact with the interior flange of any practically sized bezel case so as to securely position the same thereon. The position of the gripping lingers with relation to the particular bezel case employed in the present instance is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. A suitable heat controlling electrical unit 2d which is adapted to provide means for heating the positioned bezelcase contacts the bezel case gripping fingers il and it through lead wires 2l and 2t. `Insulators E3 and 2li are provided to separate the electrical circuit forming the bezel heating ineens provided in the device from the remainder of the apparatus. A hand operatedlever mechanism is also included in the construc"^:n to permit the operater to regulate th vertical motion of the movable grip ping fingers il and lil. The means portion of the device through which pressure maybe exerted by the operator to move the gripped bezel case against the crystal forming material includes a slide piece 275 and the hand lever connected'thereto designated at 26. A spring El normally rnaintame the .operated lever mechanism for the bezel case g ipping means in a raised position.

' The thermoplastic unbreakable material from which the crystal is formed is designated in the drawings at 28.

It will be understood that the invention is employed to Yaccomplish the directinsertion of unbreakable crystal material in practically any shape or size of bezel case. Consequently it will be appreciated that the particular construction of the bezel case does not form an important part of the present inventive disclosure. ne bezel case utilized in this instance as shown in the drawings is of the usual construction being designated at 29, the bezel or crystal retaining groove of the same being indicated at Sii, Fig. 4. The geometrical contour of the bezel or bezel case is immaterial inasmuch as the crystal may be installed with equal facility therein regardless of the same. The material forming 'the crystal is known in the art as unbreakable crystal and is consequently so designated throughout this specification.

'Ihe plastic mold hereinbefore referred to is indicated in the drawings at 3|.

In installing the unbreakable watch crystal directly in the bezel case of the watch, the method of operation of the herein disclosed apparatusis as follows:

The bezel case of the watch is rst removed from the watchcase and the same is adjusted in a downwardly facing position between the raised gripping fingers Il and I8. The fingers grip the internal. flange ofthe bezel case, Fig. 3, and securely set the same in position. The bezel case is fixed to be substantially centrally located regardless of its geometrical shape with relation to the vertical rod M which extends below the same which is clearly indicated in Fig. l. A mold of any suitable hardening plastic material having a high area or raised portion substantially corresponding to the shape of the bezel is Xed in position `in the supporting structure I3 directly below the bezel case, Fig. 2. While the plastic material forming the mold is soft, the operator o-f the device lowers the bezel case through movement of the lever Ztl to take a light impression of the lip or rim of the bezel of the bezel case to be fitted. The peripheral impression of the bezel rim is designated in the drawings at 32 the same extending around the entire circumference of the bezel to be tted regardless of its shape. The xed bezel case is then raised by the operator the bezel of the watch in which the crystal is to 10 be tted.

The mold 3l is allowed to harden and the installing step of the process then takes place which is as follows:

VA thickness or blank of the unbreakable ma- 15 terial forming the crystal is placed over the raised impression on the mold as indicated in Fig. 2, the same resting on thisportion of the moldwhich corresponds in shape to the bezel.

. As a general rule in order to provide sur'hcient clearance for the hands of the watch the crystal formingmaterial must be domed or bowed to a considerable or required extent. To accomplish this function the operator turns thumb lscrew li until the resilient abutting piece i5 is brought ..25

in central contact with the material 28. Pressure is then applied by the operator through the thumb screw until the material has been domed suiiiciently to meet the requirements of the individual case, the position of the same shownfis being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The operator next utilizes the bezel case of the watch as a piercing or cutting instrument by means, of which the crystal material is cut in the shape of the bezelrand fitted therein in e535 single operation. In accomplishing this function the operatorrests the bezel case upon the surface of the bowed unbreakable material 28 and heats through operation of the electrical unit 2d the bezel case until it bites or Vmelts throughJO the material, the temperature of the case being raised sufciently high to accomplish this purpose. By application of the heat in the bezel case and pressure upon the material by the operator through lever 26, this step in thepro-r cedure is rapidly accomplished in order not to effect the main body of the crystal material by heat and thus cause it to lose its elastic qualities. In this manner the bezel case vof the watch is employed to cut a thickness of material to con- ,50

form to the peripheral shape of the bezel inA 'which it is adapted to t and in which it solidifies into position. The fused material fills the bezel 3l) and conforms itself to all of the irregular edges therein, Fig. 4, to thereby assure a t(S5 perfect t.

In order to be positive that the peripherally cut area of the unbreakable material iills the bezel of the watch, the operator releases by approximately a quarter turn the thumb screw i6 60 to slightly relieve the perssure under which the material is positioned. Through its tendency to return to a normal dat surface the bowed crystal material presses the molten peripherally cut rim of the same into any portion of the bezel which 65 it might have accidentally failed to contact. The crystal material is then quickly cooled in any suitable manner as by applying water to the positioned bezel case, the heating unit 2i! being turned olf by the operator, and the installing operation is completed. The bezel case is removed from the fingers ill and I8 and the crystal set therein is cleaned for mounting upon the watchcase. It will be apparent that because of the retention of the resiliency of the main body (6 material solidiiies in position lin'. the bezel it will n be clear that the same conforms in shape to any I roughened irregularities in the groove as shown in Fig. `4. Also it will be now understood` that the present apparatus simultaneously eiects ay crystal vforming andsetting operation.

Inasmuch as many changes could obviously-be made in theconstruction of the apparatus, here-y in described and many. apparently wide different embodiments of myinVention could be vmade without departingl from the scope thereof, it is `intended that all matter contained in the above descriptionv or shown in the accompanying drawings lshall be interpreted Vas illustrative and not in al limiting sense.

`Having thus described my breakable watchl crystals which comprises bow# ing a thickness of the unbreakable material forming the crystal in correct relation with regard to the bezel' case in which itis to be mounted, o

and cutting through the thickness of bo-wed unbreakable material with the bezel case in heated condition to thereby shape :and directly positionl the cut material in the bezel of the case.'

-2. The method of installing thermoplastic Watch crystals which comprises bowing a thickness of the thermoplastic material forming the 1 e vploying a mold having ,thel conguration of the crystal in correct relation .with regard to the-bezel case in which it is to be mounted, placing the bezel case against the material, and heating the bezel.I

case to lmelt a peripheral portion o-f the thermo-V plastic material yto fit and securely position the same in the bezel off-the case. y

3. The method of installing thermoplastic unbreakable watch crystals which comprises emj ployingv arnold having the conguration of the bezel of the watch bezel case in which the crystal Yforming material is to be mounted, bowing a' i invention, what ;I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y f

1. The method of installing thermoplastic unL f breakable watch'crystals which comprises posi- `,tioning*. a blank of' the unbreakable 'material vforming the crystal of a size larger than the bezel thickness of,A the 'thermoplastic` .unbreakable crystal forming material against thewmold, vand placing the bezel case in a heated condition against the bowed thermoplasticmaterial to melt through the material and directlyt a shaped peripheral portion ofthe 'same in amounted position in the bezel of the watchjbezel case.

.14. The method of installing ,thermoplastic unbreakable watch crystals which comp-rises employing a mold having theconguration of the l bezel of the watch bezel case in'which the crystal forming material is lto be mounted, bowing `a n thickness of the thermoplastic unbreakable crystal forming material against th emold,',placing .the rbezelA case in a heatedv condition against the' bowedgthermoplastic material to melt through land' directly t a shaped peripheral'portion of the same in the bezel of the case',and partially relieving the bowed condition of the thermoplastic material iny order that the peripherally molten .portion of the material be'urged to completely l iill the bezel of the watch case in whichthe crysg tal is mounted..`

5,. `The method ofinstalling thermoplastic unin correct relation withregard to the` bezel case'j,y

in which it is to be mounted, 'and melting through :the `blank with the bezel case, in heatedcondition,

bezel of the watch-bezel case in whichthe crystal y is to bek mounted, positioning a blank of thermo-v plastic unb-reakable crystal forming material of a 'size' larger' than the bezel against the mold,

and placing the bezel case in a heated ycondition y against thepositioned thermoplastic material to .melt through the sameand directly fit a' shaped peripheral `portion of the material in a mounted e position in the bezel of the watch.v bezel case.

' y DUTCI-IER. 

